1. 'Systems Librarianship' in North America and China Pascal Calarco, MLIS University of Notre Dame ASIS&T 2010

2. My background and environment
MLIS 1995, McGill; three different academic libraries
Manage library systems department, 2 librarians, 8 IT professionals
Shared computing infrastructure, ILS, citation linking, federated search, resource discovery for ND & three other institutions
Digital repository and other open source- based development

3. A well-established specialization in North America

4. IT-focused LIS conferences & communities of practice

5. Some Relevant studies
Lavagnino (1997): systems librarian & networking technologies evolution
Xu & Chen (2001): 7 of 49 ALA-accredited tracks in systems librarianship
Jordan (2003): self-education of systems librarians
Matthews & Pardue (2009): significant overlap between librarians & IT professionals

6. Research Questions: China
How is provision of library systems & support different and the same in North America?
What education paths do library systems professionals in China follow?
Which of their skills are acquired after graduation? Through what methods?
Is there a “job market” in China and how is advertising & recruitment done?
How are professional and non-professional technical tasks divided? Compare to NA libraries

7. Definition: Systems Librarian
“a librarian. . . responsible for managing information technology used in a library” (Jordan, 2003)
Stricter common definition today: managing/developing library information systems eg, web presence, ILS, resource discovery, citation linking, federated search services
Others argue for “job family” perspective, include digital library, web design, systems development, user interface/UX/IA/HCI, digital preservation, etc.

8. Formal Education ALA-accredited degree, 62 schools (US & Canada)
35 schools now offer some specialization or CAS in applied technology within LIS context
Digital libraries, Health informatics, Data curation/preservation, HCI/IA, KM, information management
Increasing differentiation amongst offerings

9. Informal education Applied project-based learning
Learn by doing; evolutionary skill development
Embedded with IT staff
Community software projects & vendor- based applications
Librarian first, technologist second or vice versa

10. Transformation of Chinese higher education & libraries
Rapid growth and sophistication; 1980s opening up, 1990s transformation
Progressive evolution in USA/Canada 1960s+ vs revolutionary sprint in China 1990s+
“211” (1993) & “985” programmes to develop world-class universities focusing on around 100 key institutions

11. Which Path Provides Greater Value?
Accredited degreed librarian who learns technology (programming, design, administration, problem solving, standards, culture)
Technologist who learns libraries (standards, culture, conventions, values, systems, processes)
Complementary; librarians & technologists both add value

12. 'Systems librarianship' in China: What we learned
Domain knowledge often more important than LIS
Skills development to enable research
No equivalent credential to MLS in China
LIS programs re-established mid-1980s
Late 1990s integration of LIS into IS/IM
Technology professionals in Chinese academic libraries: IS/IM, CS education

13. 'Systems librarianship' in China
Learn library conventions, processes on the job
Some very sophisticated local systems development: CAS Library union catalog, federated search, full text search/delivery systems
Gap in formal education outcomes in IS/IM and what employers need (Li et. al. 2010)

14. Chinese systems librarianship: Weiling Liu, University of Louisville
Director, Library Systems, University of Louisville Libraries
Native Chinese speaker & writer
Visited Guangzhou area academic libraries, October 2010
Position examples

15. Systems Administrator
Institution: Beijing University
Unit: Library Systems Office
Job Title: Systems Administrator
Responsibilities: Plan, manage and coordinate Library information technology related applications, such as websites, servers, databases, digital collections and other related responsibilities
Educational Requirements: Master's degree or above
Age requirements: Graduates
Major or Research Area: Computer Science related
Other requirements:
Responsible and hard-working; good learning ability, and creative; independent, good personality and a team player; ability to handle stress and work overtime if needed

16. Library Information Technician
Institution: XiaMen Institute of Technology Hua Qiao University
Job Title: Library Information Technician
Job Opening: 1
Educational Requirements: Bachelor's degree or above
Major or Research Area: Library Science, Information Management or Computer Science
Requirements:
Familiar with library automation systems. Experience with library cataloging is preferable

17. Automation System Admin.
Institution: Dalian Haishi University
Job Title: Automation System Administrator *
General requirements:
Master's degree, Bachelor's degree honored by a university of "211 Project**"
Proficient in English and desktop applications
In good health and age of 30 or under
Responsibilities:
Participate in different work shifts; Responsible for the operation and maintenance of web system; Responsible for the maintenance of local databases; Participate in the operation and maintenance of library automation system; Participate in the development of local databases; Participate in the system training for library staff and end users
Requirements:
Graduate from a science major; Good managerial ability; Responsible, with good librarian ethics and loves libraries ; Ability to work in a team environment
[Translator’s Notes:
* Total 7 openings, two of which are for library and one of them is for library automation system management
** “211 Project” – a Chinese government’s initiative started in 1993 to improve higher education aiming at cultivating talent for national economic and social development strategies in the 21st century. The project focuses on the development of around 100 key universities.]

18. Library System Administrator
Institution: Shangdong Yingcai University
Job Title: Library System Administrator
Requirements:
Master's degree or above with library information system major
Responsibilities:
Develop and manage the University’s library information system and related information access
Openings: a few
Type of Position: Full Time

19. Library Information and Computer Management
Institution: Northeast Normal University
Position: Library Information and Computer Management
Requirements:
Master's degree graduates from a “211” or “985*” university, but other university graduates are also welcome
Openings: 1
[Translator’s Note:
*Another project similar to “211”, which focuses on building some world-class universities and special projects by a number of high-level universities in China.]

20. Library System Administrator
Institution: Guangdong Baiyun University
Job Title: Library System Administrator
Requirements:
Familiar with the maintenance and management of library systems
Familiar with computer network and knowledge of server and related management
Two or more years of library related experience is preferable
Location: Guangzhou
Education: Bachelor’s degree or above
Experience: two years or above
Type of Job: Full Time

21. Surveying job ads: North America
Searched LITA-L, ALEPH-NA, LIBJOBS, CODE4LIB; 328 postings 1/2009-9/2010
Selected 93 position advertisements based on job title
Set aside ads clearly all in public services, technical services, pure administration
42 ads examined in depth

22. Position title word cloud (42 titles)

23. Position requirements

24. Some observations
4 positions (~10%) developer positions with preferred MLS
Less than 75% of position titles requiring an MLS had “Librarian” in them
Communications and management function importance
Systems support in electronic resource & metadata positions

25. Next steps: surveys – China & US/Canada
Education and skills required
Background of incumbent
Major responsibilities
Skills developed while working
Methods for developing new skills
Motivation for working in systems
Formal position description

26. Conclusions
Chinese librarianship has developed in quite different ways than US/Canada
China priority for domain skills applicable for the work in question THEN library knowledge
North American priority for professional acculturation/knowledge foundations THEN hard skills
Much opportunity to learn from one another